Water supply control device for washing machine

ABSTRACT

A water supply control device for a washing machine, the device selectively supplying washing water to a predetermined chamber of washing process chambers by switching water supply passages of the washing water, and including: a body including a water inlet port, a chamber provided with a plurality of water passages and providing an outflow path of the washing water, and a plurality of water outlet ports allowing the washing water supplied through the respective water passages to be supplied to the respective washing process chambers; a plurality of opening and closing parts made of a magnetic material and provided at the water passages, respectively, to be movable upward and downward, the opening and closing parts controlling flowing of the washing water in the water passages; and an actuator being rotatable by a stepping motor, and provided with a permanent magnet coming into contact with the respective opening and closing parts.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2017-0133843, filed Oct. 16, 2017, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water supply control device for awashing machine, the device being configured to supply washing water ina selective switching manner in accordance with processes of a washingcycle.

Description of the Related Art

In general, fully automatic washing machines perform a series ofcontinuous processes including a washing process, a rinsing process, aspin-drying process, and a drying process by a control unit controllinga predetermined washing cycle. Water supply in such a washing cycle ismainly performed in the washing and rinsing processes.

A water supply process in the washing and rinsing processes will bedescribed. First, the washing process consists of two steps: preliminarywashing and main washing, wherein first water supply for supplyingwashing water and second water supply for supplying detergent orsoftener are performed in the preliminary washing, and water supply forsupplying washing water is performed in the main washing. Water supplyfor supplying rinsing water is performed in the rinsing process, andthus water supply is firstly and secondarily performed in the washingand rinsing processes, thereby realizing a predetermined washing cycle.

The water supply control in the washing and rinsing processes isperformed such that washing water is supplied in accordance with thepreliminary or main washing, that is, washing water is supplied to adetergent or softener supply chamber or to a washing chamber throughpipes in a selective manner. More specifically, a manifold-type watersupply control device is used to selectively supply washing water torespective washing process chamber, the device being provided with aplurality of water outlet ports extending to be connected to the pipesfor introducing and supplying water flowing into a water inlet portdirectly connected to a water pipe to the respective washing processchambers such as a detergent or softener supply chamber, or a washingchamber.

However, such a water supply control device includes electromagnetvalves controlling water supply and installed at the plurality of wateroutlet ports, respectively, the water outlet ports extending from theouter circumference of a body. The water supply control device isproblematic in that a plurality of electric devices are installed on theouter circumference of the body, resulting in an increase in volume ofthe device and an increase in installation space, and surrounding partssuch as an electrical connection part for supplying electric power tothe respective electromagnet valves, etc. are additionally provided,resulting in a complicated structure.

Thus, recently, a water supply control device for a washing machine,which has a flow passage switching structure, is developed and used,wherein entrances of the water outlet ports are arranged on the outercircumference of the body, and a disc-shaped opening/closing platerotated by a separate motor selectively opens and closes the respectiveentrances of the water outlet ports, thereby supplying washing water ina selective manner, without using the electromagnet valves forcontrolling water supply in the respective water outlet ports.

In such a flow passage switching structure of the water supply controldevice, a rotation position of the opening/closing plate selectivelyopening and closing the respective entrances of the water outlet portsis controlled. Control of the rotation position of the opening/closingplate is performed such that the rotation position of theopening/closing plate is determined by using a plate cam coaxiallyinstalled with the opening/closing plate, and ON/OFF output signals of alimit switch placed at a predetermined position of the circumference ofthe plate cam, thereby controlling driving of a motor.

However, an opening/closing plate position control unit in the watersupply control device using the plate cam and the limit switch isconfigured such that a rotation position of the plate cam is determinedon the basis of on/off time of the switch, which is brought into contactwith a protrusion when the plate cam rotates. Such positiondetermination is performed by: transmitting the on/off signals by atransmission part that transmits the on/off signals depending on whetherthe protrusion is in contact with the switch; measuring the on/off timeof the switch on the basis of the transmitted signals; and recognizingthe rotation position of the plate cam by a determination part thatvirtually determines the rotation position of the plate cam bycalculation based on the measured value. However, it is necessary torestore the position control unit to an initial mode at the time ofrestarting after abnormality or unexpected stoppage during process ofthe control device. In addition, additional surrounding parts for theposition control of the opening/closing plate are increased, leading toa complicated structure and an increase in manufacturing cost.

The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding of thebackground of the present invention, and is not intended to mean thatthe present invention falls within the purview of the related art thatis already known to those skilled in the art.

DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART

(Patent document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication No.10-2006-0100618

(Patent document 2) Korean Patent Application Publication No.10-2014-0045760

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the related art, and the present inventionprovides a water supply control device being configured such that anopening/closing structure for supplying washing water is operated due toa magnetic force of a permanent magnet, whereby configuration issimplified, driving power consumption is reduced, and manufacturing costis reduced.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a water supply control device for awashing machine, the device being configured to supply washing water toa predetermined chamber of washing process chambers such as a detergentor softener supply chamber or a washing chamber in a selective manner,and including: a body including a water inlet port into which thewashing water flows, a chamber placed in a circumferential direction ofthe body and provided with a plurality of water passages, the chamberbeing configured to provide an outflow path of the washing water flowingin from the water inlet port, and a plurality of water outlet portsextending from an outer circumference of the body and allowing thewashing water supplied through the respective water passages to besupplied to the respective washing process chambers; a plurality ofopening and closing parts made of a magnetic material and provided atthe water passages, respectively, to be movable upward and downward, theopening and closing parts controlling flowing of the washing water inthe water passages; and an actuator provided at an upper center of thebody to be rotatable by a stepping motor, and provided with a permanentmagnet coming into contact with the respective opening and closingparts, wherein when the stepping motor is operated in response to acontrol signal of the washing machine, the permanent magnet of theactuator reaches any one of the opening and closing parts, and at thesame time the opening and closing part is moved upward due to a magneticforce to open the corresponding water passage that is in a closed state,whereby the washing water is supplied to the corresponding washingprocess chamber through the corresponding water outlet port in theselective manner.

According to the water supply control device for the washing machineaccording to the present invention, by using a simple mechanicalopening/closing structure using the magnetic force, it is possible torealize a stabilized driving and a simplified configuration, to realizean economical effect of reducing driving power consumption andmanufacturing cost of the washing machine, and to realize enhancedreliability attributable to stabilization of the final product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a water supply control device for awashing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the water supply control device for thewashing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internalconstruction of the water supply control device for the washing machine,and taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing arrangement relationship of openers andclosers by opening an upper portion of a body of the water supplycontrol device for the washing machine according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory views showing a water supply process ofwashing water in the water supply control device for the washing machineaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a standby state in which driving of the washingmachine is stopped;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the washing water flows intoan water inlet port when the washing machine is operated and aregulating unit of the control device is opened; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the washing water is suppliedto a washing process chamber when a water passage of the control deviceis opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals will refer to thesame or like parts.

Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a water supply control device for a washingmachine according to the present invention in detail.

The present invention provides the water supply control device for thewashing machine, the device being configured to supply washing water toa predetermined chamber of washing process chambers such as a detergentor softener supply chamber or a washing process chamber in a selectivemanner.

Reference numeral 10 in the drawing denotes a body. The body 10 isdivided into upper and lower portions such that the upper portion 10 aand the lower portion 10 b are assembled together.

The body 10 configured as described above is provided at a first sidethereof with a water inlet port 12 into which washing water flows andwhich is directly connected to a water pipe, and at a second sidethereof with a plurality of water outlet ports 14 extending from anouter circumference of the body, and allowing washing water flowing inthrough the water inlet port 12 to be supplied to the respective washingprocess chambers through respective pipes.

Further, the water inlet port 12 is provided with a regulating unit 20being driven by a signal from a washing machine driving control unit andregulating supply of washing water flowing in through the water inletport 12. When driving of the washing machine is stopped, the regulatingunit 20 receives the signal from the washing machine driving controlunit and then blocks the water inlet port 12 using a conventionalelectromagnetic valve, thereby preventing water pressure from beingdirectly transmitted to the water supply control device.

Such a structure remains the same as a conventional structure, and a keytechnique in the present invention is characterized by improving awashing water supply structure in the water supply control device.

The present invention is provided with a chamber 16 provided in the body10 and connected to the water inlet port 12, the chamber beingconfigured to provide a temporary stay and an outflow path of washingwater flowing in from the water inlet port 12. Herein, the chamber 16may be placed in the body 10 in a circumferential direction thereof.

In addition, the chamber 16 placed in the circumferential direction ofthe body as described above is provided with a plurality of waterpassages 18 corresponding to the water outlet ports 14 described above,respectively, and arranged to be distanced from each other at a regularinterval.

The water passages 18 have the same structure as a valve seat forsupplying or cutting off washing water flowing in through the waterinlet port 12 and the chamber 16 to the respective water outlet ports 14provided on the outer circumference of the body 10 in association withan opening and closing part 30 that will be described below.

Further, the water passages 18 are provided at an upper portion thereofwith a plurality of opening and closing parts 30, respectively, theopening and closing parts being made of a magnetic material and beingconfigured to control flowing of washing water in the water passages bybeing moved upward and downward due to a magnetic force exerted from amagnetic actuator 40 in association with the actuator 40 that will bedescribed below. Herein, the opening and closing parts 30 may bearranged concentrically with the actuator 40.

In addition, each of the opening and closing parts 30 includes a plunger32 made of a magnetic material and elastically provided at the openingand closing part, and a blocking element 34. When the magnetic force ofthe actuator 40 is released, the opening and closing part 30 configuredas described above is automatically returned to its original positionsuch that the corresponding water passage 18 is allowed to be normallymaintained in a closed state.

Meanwhile, the actuator 40 is provided at an upper center of the body10, and configured to be rotated by a stepping motor SM driven inresponse to a signal applied from the control unit in accordance withprocesses of a washing cycle.

The actuator 40 is substantially disk shaped and is provided at apredetermined position of the actuator with a permanent magnet M cominginto contact with the respective opening and closing parts 30. Herein,the permanent magnet M is installed in an assembly manner in a storageportion 42 provided on a diameter line passing a center of an uppersurface of the actuator 40.

The water supply control device of the present invention configured asdescribed above operates such that when a signal for a predeterminedprocess of the washing cycle is given, the actuator 40 is rotated by thestepping motor SM in the direction of the arrow indicated in FIG. 4, sothat the permanent magnet M reaches any one of the opening and closingparts 30, and at the same time the opening and closing part 30 is movedupward by the magnetic force of the actuator 40 to thereby open thecorresponding water passage 18 that is in a closed state, wherebywashing water is supplied to the corresponding washing process chamberthrough the corresponding water outlet port 14.

The operation process of the water supply control device for the washingmachine according to the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which driving of the washing machine is stopped,wherein both the regulating unit 20 and the water passages 18 aremaintained in a closed state.

FIG. 6 shows an initial mode of the washing cycle in which driving ofthe washing machine is started. When the signal for a predeterminedprocess of the washing cycle is given by the control unit, theregulating unit 20 is opened firstly whereby washing water flows inthrough the water inlet port 12. Herein, the washing water having beenflowed in through the water inlet port 12 is filled into the chamber 16,and then waits for processes of the washing cycle, which will proceedsequentially afterward.

FIG. 7 shows a state of one of the processes of the washing cycle inwhich when a signal for a predetermined process of the washing cycle isgiven by the control unit, the stepping motor SM operates to rotate theactuator 40, and the permanent magnet M of the actuator 40 reaches theopening and closing part 30 corresponding to the predetermined processof the washing cycle. At the same time, the plunger 32 of the openingand closing part 30 is moved upward due to the magnetic force of thepermanent magnet M in the direction of the arrow indicated in thedrawing and then the blocking element 34 that closed the water passage18 is opened, whereby washing water filled in the chamber 16 will besupplied to the corresponding washing process chamber through thecorresponding water outlet port 14.

Thereafter, when the predetermined process of the washing cycle iscompleted and a signal for the following predetermined process is given,the actuator 40 is moved to the opening and closing part 30corresponding to the following process, and the opened water passage 18is closed by the opening and closing part 30 being returned to itsoriginal position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water supply control device for a washingmachine, the device being configured to supply washing water to apredetermined chamber of washing process chambers such as a detergent orsoftener supply chamber or a washing chamber in a selective manner, andcomprising: a body including a water inlet port into which the washingwater flows, a chamber placed in a circumferential direction of the bodyand provided with a plurality of water passages, the chamber beingconfigured to provide an outflow path of the washing water flowing infrom the water inlet port, and a plurality of water outlet portsextending from an outer circumference of the body and allowing thewashing water supplied through the respective water passages to besupplied to the respective washing process chambers; a plurality ofopening and closing parts made of a magnetic material and provided atthe water passages, respectively, to be movable upward and downward, theopening and closing parts controlling flowing of the washing water inthe water passages; and an actuator provided at an upper center of thebody to be rotatable by a stepping motor, and provided with a permanentmagnet coming into contact with the respective opening and closingparts, wherein when the stepping motor is operated in response to acontrol signal of the washing machine, the permanent magnet of theactuator reaches any one of the opening and closing parts, and at thesame time the opening and closing part is moved upward due to a magneticforce to open the corresponding water passage that is in a closed state,whereby the washing water is supplied to the corresponding washingprocess chamber through the corresponding water outlet port in theselective manner.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the openingand closing parts includes: a plunger made of a magnetic material andelastically provided at the opening and closing part; and a blockingelement opening and closing the water passage.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the permanent magnet is provided at a predetermined position ofthe actuator, and is inserted and installed in a storage portionprovided on a diameter line passing a center of the actuator.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing parts are arrangedconcentrically with the actuator at regular intervals.